Method and device for biopsy specimen collecting and handling

ABSTRACT

A method for procuring and processing samples of cellular material which comprises the steps of removing from a body cavity samples of cellular material, washing the samples of cellular material into a fluid container and processing the samples of cellular material directly within the container structure for eventual analysis in the cancer detection; the apparatus for use in carrying out the method includes a tubular member, a cap adapted to fit over one end of the tubular member to close the same, a fluid container adapted to be used as centrifuging container adapted to be connected to the other end and a swab structure or the like adapted to be removably connected with the other end of the tubular member. The dimension of the cap and other end are thereby so chosen that the cap can also be connected to the other end of the tubular member so as to form a pipette structure.

nited States Patent Davis [54] METHOD AND DEVICE FOR BIOPSY SPECIMENCOLLECTING AND HANDLING [72] Inventor: Hugh J. Davis, 507 North Castle,Baltimore, Md. 21205 22] Filed: Oct. 23, 1965 21 Appl. 110.; 503,679

[52] US. Cl. 5128/2 B, 128/2 W, 128/232, 128/276, 128/304 [51] Int. Cl...A6lb 10/00 [58] Field ofSearch ..128/2,2B,232,218, 233, 128/304, 240,276; 23/259, 292; 118/413, 414; 15/236 [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS Feb. 3, 1972 3,163,16012/1964 Cohen ..12s/2 3,175,5533/1965 Mattson ..12s/2 OTHER PUBLICATIONS V. Mueller and Co., CatalogueNo. 65, Rand McNully and C0., 1963, RD76M8 (pg. 45 relied upon) PrimaryExaminer-Richard A. Gaudet Assistant ExaminerKyle L. HowellAttorney-Craig, Antonelli, Stewart & Hill ABSTRACT A method forprocuring and processing samples of cellular material which comprisesthe steps of removing from a body cavity samples of cellular material,washing the samples of cellular material into a fluid container andprocessing the samples of cellular material directly within thecontainer structure for eventual analysis in the cancer detection; theapparatus for I use in carrying out the method includes a tubularmember, a

cap adapted to fit over one end of the tubular member to close the same,a fluid container adapted to be used as centrifuging container adaptedto be connected to the other end and a swab structure or the likeadapted to be removably connected with the other end of the tubularmember. The dimension of the cap and other end are thereby so chosenthat the cap can also be connected to the other end of the tubularmember so as to form a pipette structure.

7 16 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures msmznm amz SHEET 1 0F 2 INVENTOR. 64/499 CZ oer f t If!!! ATTORNEY mmsnm 81972 I 3.840.268

SHEET 2 OF 2 INVENTOR.

BYW 4 ATTORNEY METHOD AND DEVICE FOR BIOPSY SPECIMEN COLLECTING ANDHANDLING The present invention relates to the processing of samples ofcellular material collected from body cavities for microscopicexamination and to apparatus for the collection of such samples.

In my copending application, Ser. No. 199,373 filed June 1, 1962, nowabandoned, there is described a method and apparatus for obtaining andprocessing samples of cellular material from body cavities formicroscopic examination which permits the use of untrained personnel toprocure such samples. While the method and apparatus described in mycopending application are eminently satisfactory for the purpose,microscopic slides prepared from such samples do not invariably containas high a positive cell count as is usually desired by pathologists.

It is a purpose of the present invention to provide a method whichenables individual cell specimens to be processed safely without thedanger of cross-contamination.

It is a further purpose of the invention to provide a method whichenables the use of the same apparatus for the entire processing wherebythe danger of cross-contamination is avoided.

It is a further purpose of the invention to provide a method whichenables all the-necessary steps to be accomplished by means of onesingle apparatus, thereby obviating the necessity of multiple pipettes,aspiring syringes, collection bottles, etc.

It is a further purpose of the invention to provide a method whicheliminates the need for using and washing multiple items of laboratoryequipment.

It is a further purpose of the invention to provide a method whichexpedites the processing and cuts down the time required in thelaboratory.

Still a further purpose of the invention is to provide the method whichenables improvement of the quality of the microscopic preparations andthereby renders the microscopic examination more rapid and accurate.

It is a further purpose of the present method to provide means ofeffecting a specific cellular sampling from the squamocolumnar junctureof the cervix, irrespective of normal anatomic variations.

It is a further purpose of the present method to eliminate the need forspreading and fixation of the cellular material on a microscopic slideat the time of collection, thus simplifying the procurement of thesample.

It is a further purpose of the present method to secure a richer sampleof atypical or positive cells for analysis than heretofore possible torecover and concentrate on a single microscopic slide in the laboratory.

It is a further purpose of the present method to assure a random mixtureof atypical and positive cells with the normal cells on the microscopicslide, so that the probability of any individual microscopic fieldcontaining diagnostic cells is greatly increased.

It is a further purpose of the present method to assure fixation anddistribution of the cellular material under laboratory control, so as toassure greater uniformity and quality of the microscopic preparations.

It is a further purpose of the invention to provide an apparatus forcarrying out the method.

Among other purposes of the invention one purpose is to provide anapparatus which enables the utilization of a single container structureas a collecting as well as shipping and processing container.

Still a further purpose of the invention is to provide apparatus for thepurpose specified, a part of which can be used as a centrifugalcontainer for processing the sample material and another part of whichcan be used as a pipette for aspiring material from said centrifugalcontainer and distributing the material directly on a microscopic slide.

Further purposes of the invention will appear from the followingspecification in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which FIG.1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the pipette of theinvention,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the pipette shown in FIG. I illustratingits parts unassembled,

FIG. 3 is a detailed perspective view of the swab assembly of thepipette shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a schematic partial longitudinal section through the pipetteshown in FIG. I,

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section through a modified portion of thepipette of the invention,

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section further illustrating the modificationof FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of the pipette of the inventionillustrating one step of the method,

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of the pipette of the inventionillustrating another step of the method,

FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of the pipette of the inventionillustrating a further step of the method,

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the pipette of FIG. 1 with its partsdifferentially assembled to illustrate a still further step of themethod,

FIG. 11 is a detailed perspective view of a modification of a portion ofthe pipette of the invention,

FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective view of one step of the method usingthe modification shown in FIG. 1 1,

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the pipette structure shown in FIG. 1,illustrating its use in preparing a microscope slide.

FIG. 14 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a furthermodification of the invention.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 14 through 15-15.

The invention provides a method for procuring and processing samples ofcellular material by utilizing a single container structure whichcomprises the steps of effectively obtaining cellular material from abody cavity, washing said cellular material into said containerstructure, shipping said container structure to a laboratory forprocessing said cellular material exclusively within said containerstructure to condition said cellular material for microscopicexamination, and eventually distributing said cellular material on amicroscope slide directly from said container structure.

More specifically the invention provides a method for procuring andconditioning samples of cellular material for microscopic inspection bymeans of a single container structure which includes pipette meanscomprising the steps of collecting cellular material such as from a bodycavity of a human being, washing said cellular material from thecollecting means into said container by means of a solution within saidcontainer, shipping said container and pipette structure with thesolution contained therein to a laboratory, processing said solution bycentrifuging or sedimenting within said container structure toeffectively condition the cellular material contained in said solutionfor microscopic examination, and eventually distributing said cellularmaterial directly from said container by means of said pipette means ona microscope slide.

The invention provides apparatus for procuring and processing samples ofcellular material by means of a swab or scraper which comprises firstmeans effectively providing a container for a fluid, second meanseffectively providing a swab or scraper for the collection of cellularmaterial and a third means effectively providing a pipette structurehaving a bulb and tubular portion. Said container, said swab or scraperand said pipette structure are assembled in a manner to provide easyseparation so as to render the container operable as a centrifuge tubefor processing the cellular material and conditioning said cellularmaterial for microscopic examination. The structure also includes meansoperable to render said tube effective as a pipette for the withdrawalof cellular material from said centrifuge tube.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing, and specifically to FIGS. 1through 4, the container structure is outwardly formed in three parts, aliquid container 16 which also effectively provides a centrifuge tube, atubular structure 7 which effectively provides a pipette tube and a capI which effectively provides a pipette bulb.

One end of tubular structure 7 is provided with a flange 9 havingextending from it a tubular portion 10. Tubular portion 10 is detachablyinserted into the open end of container 16 to form a liquidtight fit.The liquidtight fit may be provided by any conventional means, such as aforce fit, heat sealing or gluing. The other end of tubular structure 7is desirably provided with two circumferential ridges 12 and 13 whichare spaced from the other end of the tubular structure and from eachother. The cap 1 detachably covers the end of tubular structure 7 anddesirably may be internally provided with circumferential recesses 4 andwhich are spaced from one another to provide a liquidtight fit whencircumferential ridges 12 and 13 snap into them.

A swab structure of the type illustrated in FIG. 3 is provided for thecollection of cellular samples. The swab structure is an elongatedmember 20 having attached at one end a soft flexible material and at theother end appropriate means for detachably assembling the swab structureto the tubular structure 7. The soft flexible material may be anyappropriate material such as rayon, cotton or a foamed plastic such aspolyurethane foam. As illustrated, the soft flexible material is a tube24 of polyurethane foam, closed at one end. The soft flexible materialmay be attached to the elongated member by any appropriate means, solong as it is prevented from becoming detached. Again as illustrated, inFIG. 3, the attachment is accomplished with a toothed member 21 whichpermits the sleeve 24 to freely slide thereover, but which prevents itfrom being removed. At the other end of the elongated member 20 there isprovided means for detachably attaching the swab assembly 19 to thetubular structure 7. This may be accomplished by any appropriate means.One manner of attaching the swab assembly 19 to the tubular structure 7is to provide one end of said swab assembly with footed prongs 22 whichare circumferentially arranged around the elongated member 20, saidfooted prongs being of sufficient length to fit snugly into the cavityof the hub of the tubular structure 7. To prevent the dislodgement ofthe swab assembly 19 during use, it is desirable to provide an extension23 at the pronged end of the swab assembly, which extension 23 fits intothe cannula of tube 8.

The method of procuring and processing cellular material is as follows:

The seal between the tubular structure 7 and the container 16 is brokenin the manner shown in FIG. 7. Cellular samples are taken from the siteto be examined by swabbing the site as shown in FIG. 8, in which casethe site examined is the cervix The cellular material is then washedfrom the swab into the container 16 as shown in FIG. 9. The cellularmaterial is concentrated in the container 16, preferably bycentrifugation. The supernatant solution is removed, as by decanting anda fixing solution is placed in the container 16 and is mixed with thecellular material. The cellular material can be further processed by:

a. separation from the supernatant fixing solution, by sedimentation orcentrifugation, and distribution on a microscope slide for examinationof further processing or b. by the addition of staining agents to thecontainer 16; further processing may be carried out directly prior tothe examination of the material.

The structure of the present invention provides a single unit, thecomponents of which serve all of the apparatus necessary to collect,contain and process cellular material without the danger ofcross-contamination.

The structure is delivered to the physician prefilled with apreservative solution. Cellular material can be collected by thephysical and is either processed and examined immediately by thephysician or shipped in the structure to a laboratory for processing andexamination.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a modification of the cap 1 wherein the cap isprovided with an internal nib 6 which depends from the inner end of saidcap. The nib is such diameter that when the cap I is fitted over the endof the tubular member 8, the nib enters the opening and forms aliquidtight seal, thus preventing leakage ofthe liquid.

A modification of the invention is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. In thisembodiment of the invention, the swab assembly 19 is replaced by thescraper assembly 119. Scraper assembly 119 is an elongated member 120having at one end a flattened rigid scraper 124 which is adapted tocollect cellular material from the anterior and posterior lips of thecervix and from the external os. The scraper 124 is attached to prongs122 by a shank 120. The shank extends beyond prongs 122 to form an axialrod 123. The prongs 122 are of such dimension to form a snug fit in thehub 110, with the axial rod 123 extending into cannula 111 of tube 108to help provide stability. The method of taking a scraping with thescraper assembly 119 is illustrated in FIG. 12.

The device of the invention is used not only to collect cellularsamples, but is also to process the samples and to prepare themicroscope slides.

After obtaining the sample, the swab 24 or the scraper 124 is washed inthe fluid 18 which is contained in container 16, to remove the cellularmaterial from the swab or scraper. The container is then placed in astandard centrifuge and the cells are concentrated at the bottom of thecontainer 16. The supernatant fluid is decanted and a fixing solution isadmixed with the cellular material in container 16. The mixture isrecentrifuged to again concentrate the cellular material in the bottomof container 16.

Cap 1 is then inserted into hub 10 end of pipette assembly 7 so as toform a pipette.

As shown in FIG. 10, the thus formed pipette is used to suck thecellular material out of container 16. The cellular material is placedonto a microscope slide 26 by squeezing cap 1.

The distribution of the cellular material on microscope slide 26 isaccomplished as illustrated in FIG. 13. The cellular sample isdistributed in the form of an even layer because of the circumferentialridges l2 and 13 on tube 8 which permit the surface of the portion 14 tobe spaced from the surface of the microscope slide a distance which issubstantially that of the desired thickness of the sample layer.

Obtaining cellular samples by routine spatula scraping has the advantageof permitting the preparation of a microscope slide from a specific siteunder direct vision. For example, the usual site of early cervicalcancer is the squamocolumnar juncture, accessible to routine spatulacollections. But the juncture may be withdrawn into the cervical canal,routine wooden spatula scraping may be ineffective to obtain samplesfrom this site. The collapsible nature of the swab or spongemodification and the present invention permits introduction of thecollecting surface of the present device into the cervical canal, toobtain good samples even in the face of such anatomic variations.

A further embodiment of the invention is useful for obtaining cellularsamples to include cells exfolicting from still higher levels. Thismodification is illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15 wherein the shank 20 ofswab assembly 19 has disposed at one end thereof channels 225 extendingthrough mount 22. By substituting this swab assembly for the swabassembly shown in FIG. 2, the device may be used first to irrigate thebody cavity from which the cellular material is to be obtained in orderto wash out the cells from the cavity, and then the device is used ashereinbefore described to obtain samples by swabbing or scraping.

Irrigation is accomplished by removing the cap I from the pipette 7,inserting the tubular member 8 into the vagina until only the container16 is exposed, squeezing the container 16 to eject the irrigatingsolution, releasing the pressure on the container to reaspirate theirrigating solution together with cellular material suspended in thesolution. If desired, the irrigation can be repeated several times.After completion of the irrigation, additional cellular material may beobtained by swabbing or scraping.

It will be appreciated that for the irrigation procedure, the container16 must be formed of a resilient, flexible material. The cap I should beformed ofa similar material.

The solution with which container 16 is prefilled, where to be used asan irrigating solution must be capable of such use without injury tobody tissue. It must also be capable of inhibiting decomposition of thecellular material; however obtained. I

l have found that a suitable solution for use with my inventioncomprises a mixture of alcohol and physiological salts to which has beenadded a small amount of a fungicide or antibiotic. The salineconcentration should be sufficient to prevent the cells from swelling orshrinking. The alcohol concentration should be high enough to inhibitbacterial growth and/or decomposition of the cellular material, but lowenough not to injure the patient or alter the cells in such a manner asto make further processing difficult. The concentration of the fungicideor antibiotic should be sufficient to ensure against decomposition ofthe solution on prolonged storage.

Iclaim:

1. Apparatus for procuring and processing samples of cellular materialfrom body cavities comprising in combination a tubular member open atboth ends, a first hollow flexible closure member having an open end, asecond hollow flexible closure member having an open end, a swab means,a first connector means detachably assembling said first hollow closuremember to one end of said tubular member, a second connector meansdetachably assembling said second hollow closure member to the other endof said tubular member, and third connector means detachably assemblingsaid swab means to said one end of said tubular member to enable saidswab means to depend into said first hollow member.

2. Apparatus for procuring and processing samples of cellular materialfrom body cavities comprising in combination a first hollow flexiblemember of a first interior volume and of a physical strength sufficientto enable it to be used as a centrifugal container and having an openend, a second hollow flexible member of relatively smaller interiorvolume and having an openend, and a tubular member open at both ends,first releasable connector means detachably assembling said first hollowmember to said tubular member, second connector means detachablyassembling said second hollow member to the other end of said tubularmember, a swab means, a third releasable connector means interior ofsaid first releasable connector means detachably assembling said swabmeans to said tubular member, and said second hollow member being ofsufficient external diameter to be detachably connected to said thirdconnector means to provide a pipette bulb upon disengagement of saidswab means.-

3. Method of procuring and processing cellular material from a bodycavity by means of a container structure including means forming a swaband a fluid containing structure, comprising the steps of introducingthe swab into a body cavity, withdrawing the swab from the body cavityand introducing said swab into the containing structure to wash thesamples of cellular material from the swab into the containingstructure, processing the samples of cellular material by centrifugingthe samples within said containing structure, and eventuallydistributing the thus processed cellular material on a microscope slidedirectly from said container structure.

4. Method of procuring and processing samples of cellular material bymeans of a container structure including means forming a swab, a pipetteand a fluid containing structure, comprising the steps of aspirating bythe use of the pipette of said structure from the body cavity into thecontaining structure, introducing the swab into the body cavity,withdrawing the swab from the body cavity and introducing said swab intosaid containing structure to wash the samples of cellular material fromthe swab into the containing structure, processing the samples ofcellular material by centrifuging the samples within said containingstructure, and eventually distributing the thus processed cellularmaterial on a microscope slide directly from said container structure.

5. Apparatus for procuring and processing samples of cellular materialfrom body cavities comprising in combination: a first hollow member, ahollow tubular member of greater length than said first hollow member,swab means, a cap detachably closing one end of said tubular member toclose said hollow tubular member, and connector means operativelyassociated with said first hollow member and said tubular memberdetachably assembling first hollow member to said tubular member at theother end of said tubular member, said swab means depending from theother end of said tubular member into the interior of said first hollowmember upon assembly of said hollow member to said tubular member bysaid connector means, at least one of said first hollow members and saidcap being of flexible material.

6. Apparatus for procuring and processing samples of cellu lar materialfrom body cavities comprising in combination a v first hollow flexiblemember, a hollow tubular member of greater length than said first hollowmember, a swab means, a cap detachably closing one end of said tubularmember to close said first hollow member at said one end, and connectormeans operatively associated with said members detachably assemblingsaid first hollow member to said tubular member at the other end of thelatter, said first hollow member containing a cell-preservative fluid,and said swab means depending from said other end of said tubular memberinto the interior of said first hollow member upon assembly of saidfirst hollow member to said tubular member by said connector means.

7. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said cap is flexible.

8. A method for procuring samples of cellular material from a bodycavity and processing said cellular material to be conditioned foranalysis by utilizing a single container structure including meansforming a swab and a fluid container structure, comprising the steps ofat least partly filling said con tainer structure with acell-preservative solution, introducing the swab into a body cavity,withdrawing the swab from the body cavity and introducing the swab intothe fluid in said container structure to wash the samples of cellularmaterial from the swab into the fluid of said container structure, andprocessing said samples of cellular material directly in said containerstructure to condition the cellular material contained in said solutionfor analysis whereby the danger of cross-contamination is substantiallyeliminated.

9. A method accordingto claim 8, further comprising the step of firstirrigating the body cavity by the use of the fluid in said containerstructure to wash out the cells from the cavity.

10. A method according to claim 8, wherein the step of processing thesamples of cellular material includes centrifuging the solutioncontaining the samples within the fluid container structure.

11. A method for procuring samples of cellular material from a bodycavity and for processing the procured samples of cellular material byutilizing a single-pipette structure having a first portion adapted tobe used for procuring cellular material, a fluid container containing afluid and a second portion adapted to be used as an auxiliary pipette,comprising the steps of introducing the first portion into a bodycavity, withdrawing the first portion from the body cavity andintroducing the first portion into the fluid container to wash thesamples of cellular material from the first portion into the fluid insaid fluid container, and thereafter processing the samples of cellularmaterial directly in said fluid container structure for eventualanalysis whereby the danger of cross-contamination is substantiallyeliminated.

12. A method according to claim llll wherein the step of processingincludes concentrating by centrifuging or sedimenting the cellularmaterial in said fluid container.

'13. Apparatus for procuring and processing samples of cellular materialwithin the apparatus to minimize the danger of cross-contaminationcomprising in combination: a tubular portion open at both ends, meansforming a structure for gathering cellular material from a body cavity,a first closure member detachably closing one end of said tubularportion, a second closure member, at least one of said closure membersbeing provided with a flexible wall portion constituting a flexiblebulb, and connecting means selectively including first means detachablyconnecting said structure to the other end of said tubular portion,second means selectively and detachably connecting the one closuremember constituting said bulb member with the other end of said tubularportion to constitute pipette means, and third means selectively anddetachably connecting the other one of said closure members with saidother end of the tubular member to enable use of said other closuremember as a centrifuging container.

14. Apparatus for procuring and processing samples of cellular materialcomprising in combination: a first hollow flexible member having onlyone open end, a second hollow flexible member having only one open end,a tubular portion open at both ends, a further element for obtainingcellular samples from a body cavity, first connector means detachablyassembling said first hollow member with said tubular portion to providea first pipette structure with said first hollow member constituting apipette bulb, second connector means detachably assembling said secondhollow member with said first pipette structure to effectively provide aclosure member therefor, and third connector means adapted to detachablyassemble said second hollow member with said tubular portion uponremoval of said first hollow member to effective provide a secondpipette structure, and further means detachably assembling said furtherelement and said tubular portion.

15. Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said first hollow member isof a physical strength sufficient to enable it to be used as acentrifugal container when disassembled from said tubular member.

16. A structure for procuring and processing samples of cellularmaterial from a living body which minimizes the danger ofcross-contamination, comprising: a first hollow member, a second hollowmember, said hollow members being open at only one end thereof, atubular portion open at both ends thereof, at least one of said hollowmembers being provided with flexible wall means constituting a bulb, astructure for removing the samples of cellular material from the livingbody, means operatively associated with said hollow members and saidtubular portion and constituting connecting means including first meansdetachably connecting said hollow members and said tubular portion insuch a manner that one hollow member is connected to one end of saidtubular portion and the other hollow member is connected to the otherend thereof and to enable disassembly of said members to constitute oneof said hollow members a centrifuging container, and further meansdetachably connecting said structure to the end of said tubular portionto which said one hollow member is normally connected, said tubularportion being considerably longer than said hollow members.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,640,268 Dated February 8, 1972 Inventor(s) g Davis It is certifiedthat error appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

IN THE SPECIFICATION Column 3, line 57, ..of..." should be -...or...-Column 3, line 67, physical. should be physicianp. Column 4, line 3,.the. should be a.

Column 4, line 16, the word used. should appear after also. and beforeto. (first occurrence) IN THE CLAIMS Claim 7 should read: "Apparatusaccording to claim 6 wherein said cap is flexible.

Claim 13, column 6, line 75, delete the Word selectively}.

Claim 13, column 7, line 1, insert the Words selectively and. after theword means.

Claim 14, column 7, line 22, 'change effective. to

-. effectively.

Claim 15, column 7, line 25, change 19. to .14,

s ed and sealed this 29th day of August 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD ILFLETGHERJR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attestimt Officer Commissioner ofPatent FORM P0-105O (10-69) USCOMM'DC 60376-P69 I r us. GOVERNMENTPRINTING OFFICE: I969 0-sea-3J4

1. Apparatus for procuring and processing samples of cellular materialfrom body cavities comprising in combination a tubular member open atboth ends, a first hollow flexible closure member having an open end, asecond hollow flexible closure member having an open end, a swab means,a first connector means detachably assembling said first hollow closuremember to one end of said tubular member, a second connector meansdetachably assembling said second hollow closure member to the other endof said tubular member, and third connector means detachably assemblingsaid swab means to said one end of said tubular member to enable saidswab means to depend into said first hollow member.
 2. Apparatus forprocuring and processing samples of cellular material from body cavitiescomprising in combination a first hollow flexible member of a firstinterior volume and of a physiCal strength sufficient to enable it to beused as a centrifugal container and having an open end, a second hollowflexible member of relatively smaller interior volume and having an openend, and a tubular member open at both ends, first releasable connectormeans detachably assembling said first hollow member to said tubularmember, second connector means detachably assembling said second hollowmember to the other end of said tubular member, a swab means, a thirdreleasable connector means interior of said first releasable connectormeans detachably assembling said swab means to said tubular member, andsaid second hollow member being of sufficient external diameter to bedetachably connected to said third connector means to provide a pipettebulb upon disengagement of said swab means.
 3. Method of procuring andprocessing cellular material from a body cavity by means of a containerstructure including means forming a swab and a fluid containingstructure, comprising the steps of introducing the swab into a bodycavity, withdrawing the swab from the body cavity and introducing saidswab into the containing structure to wash the samples of cellularmaterial from the swab into the containing structure, processing thesamples of cellular material by centrifuging the samples within saidcontaining structure, and eventually distributing the thus processedcellular material on a microscope slide directly from said containerstructure.
 4. Method of procuring and processing samples of cellularmaterial by means of a container structure including means forming aswab, a pipette and a fluid containing structure, comprising the stepsof aspirating by the use of the pipette of said structure from the bodycavity into the containing structure, introducing the swab into the bodycavity, withdrawing the swab from the body cavity and introducing saidswab into said containing structure to wash the samples of cellularmaterial from the swab into the containing structure, processing thesamples of cellular material by centrifuging the samples within saidcontaining structure, and eventually distributing the thus processedcellular material on a microscope slide directly from said containerstructure.
 5. Apparatus for procuring and processing samples of cellularmaterial from body cavities comprising in combination: a first hollowmember, a hollow tubular member of greater length than said first hollowmember, swab means, a cap detachably closing one end of said tubularmember to close said hollow tubular member, and connector meansoperatively associated with said first hollow member and said tubularmember detachably assembling first hollow member to said tubular memberat the other end of said tubular member, said swab means depending fromthe other end of said tubular member into the interior of said firsthollow member upon assembly of said hollow member to said tubular memberby said connector means, at least one of said first hollow members andsaid cap being of flexible material.
 6. Apparatus for procuring andprocessing samples of cellular material from body cavities comprising incombination a first hollow flexible member, a hollow tubular member ofgreater length than said first hollow member, a swab means, a capdetachably closing one end of said tubular member to close said firsthollow member at said one end, and connector means operativelyassociated with said members detachably assembling said first hollowmember to said tubular member at the other end of the latter, said firsthollow member containing a cell-preservative fluid, and said swab meansdepending from said other end of said tubular member into the interiorof said first hollow member upon assembly of said first hollow member tosaid tubular member by said connector means.
 7. Apparatus according toclaim 9, wherein said cap is flexible.
 8. A method for procuring samplesof cellular material from a body cavity and processing said cellularmaterial to be conditioned for analysis by utIlizing a single containerstructure including means forming a swab and a fluid containerstructure, comprising the steps of at least partly filling saidcontainer structure with a cell-preservative solution, introducing theswab into a body cavity, withdrawing the swab from the body cavity andintroducing the swab into the fluid in said container structure to washthe samples of cellular material from the swab into the fluid of saidcontainer structure, and processing said samples of cellular materialdirectly in said container structure to condition the cellular materialcontained in said solution for analysis whereby the danger ofcross-contamination is substantially eliminated.
 9. A method accordingto claim 8, further comprising the step of first irrigating the bodycavity by the use of the fluid in said container structure to wash outthe cells from the cavity.
 10. A method according to claim 8, whereinthe step of processing the samples of cellular material includescentrifuging the solution containing the samples within the fluidcontainer structure.
 11. A method for procuring samples of cellularmaterial from a body cavity and for processing the procured samples ofcellular material by utilizing a single-pipette structure having a firstportion adapted to be used for procuring cellular material, a fluidcontainer containing a fluid and a second portion adapted to be used asan auxiliary pipette, comprising the steps of introducing the firstportion into a body cavity, withdrawing the first portion from the bodycavity and introducing the first portion into the fluid container towash the samples of cellular material from the first portion into thefluid in said fluid container, and thereafter processing the samples ofcellular material directly in said fluid container structure foreventual analysis whereby the danger of cross-contamination issubstantially eliminated.
 12. A method according to claim 11 wherein thestep of processing includes concentrating by centrifuging or sedimentingthe cellular material in said fluid container.
 13. Apparatus forprocuring and processing samples of cellular material within theapparatus to minimize the danger of cross-contamination comprising incombination: a tubular portion open at both ends, means forming astructure for gathering cellular material from a body cavity, a firstclosure member detachably closing one end of said tubular portion, asecond closure member, at least one of said closure members beingprovided with a flexible wall portion constituting a flexible bulb, andconnecting means selectively including first means detachably connectingsaid structure to the other end of said tubular portion, second meansselectively and detachably connecting the one closure memberconstituting said bulb member with the other end of said tubular portionto constitute pipette means, and third means selectively and detachablyconnecting the other one of said closure members with said other end ofthe tubular member to enable use of said other closure member as acentrifuging container.
 14. Apparatus for procuring and processingsamples of cellular material comprising in combination: a first hollowflexible member having only one open end, a second hollow flexiblemember having only one open end, a tubular portion open at both ends, afurther element for obtaining cellular samples from a body cavity, firstconnector means detachably assembling said first hollow member with saidtubular portion to provide a first pipette structure with said firsthollow member constituting a pipette bulb, second connector meansdetachably assembling said second hollow member with said first pipettestructure to effectively provide a closure member therefor, and thirdconnector means adapted to detachably assemble said second hollow memberwith said tubular portion upon removal of said first hollow member toeffective provide a second pipette structure, and further meansdetachably assembling said further element and said tubular poRtion. 15.Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said first hollow member is of aphysical strength sufficient to enable it to be used as a centrifugalcontainer when disassembled from said tubular member.
 16. A structurefor procuring and processing samples of cellular material from a livingbody which minimizes the danger of cross-contamination, comprising: afirst hollow member, a second hollow member, said hollow members beingopen at only one end thereof, a tubular portion open at both endsthereof, at least one of said hollow members being provided withflexible wall means constituting a bulb, a structure for removing thesamples of cellular material from the living body, means operativelyassociated with said hollow members and said tubular portion andconstituting connecting means including first means detachablyconnecting said hollow members and said tubular portion in such a mannerthat one hollow member is connected to one end of said tubular portionand the other hollow member is connected to the other end thereof and toenable disassembly of said members to constitute one of said hollowmembers a centrifuging container, and further means detachablyconnecting said structure to the end of said tubular portion to whichsaid one hollow member is normally connected, said tubular portion beingconsiderably longer than said hollow members.